Backcountry Flying Adventure! June 17 through June 21 2009...
Fellow pilots, have you ever watched with envy the pilots that fly their souped up Cessna 185s into remote airstrips high up in the mountains in the middle of nowhere? Well, you don't have to watch any longer. Monarch Sky is proud to announce our 1st annual backcountry fly-in! Join us for a 4 night trip up to the Frank Church Wilderness area of Idaho. For those of you that don't know, the Frank Church Wilderness area is a beautiful, remote area that most people only get to hike. As a Member of Monarch Sky, you will have the opportunity to experience the awesome beauty of this stretch of Idaho like few other people have--in your own airplane!
One of our own Club Members, Mark Swint, will lead this trip in his 300hp Cessna 185. Mark, who moonlights as a 767 Captain and our Director of Maintenance, has been flying to backcountry destinations for the last 30 years and helped establish the Utah Backcountry Pilot's Association. He's also CFI/CFII/MEI and is excited to be sharing his knowledge on how to safely explore the backcountry.
    
WARNING: Flying in the mountains is an incredibly rewarding and thrilling experience. To do it safely, you need the proper training, which is why anyone who intends to act as pilot in command without a Monarch Sky CFI will have to attend a mandatory briefing prior to the trip. Depending on your backcountry experience, you many need some training in proper short field takeoffs and landings in the airplane you intend to fly.
Our destination is the Diamond D Ranch deep in the wilderness of Idaho. The Ranch maintains a 2,500 packed gravel strip called Upper Loon Creek (U72), which is nestled between two 8,000 foot ridgelines. There is a single runway (4/22) with runway 4 being the preferred departure runway (left picture).
   
Our destination is the Diamond D Ranch deep in the wilderness of Idaho. For us pilots, the flying is half the fun, but for the rest of the family, they are going to love all the amenities at Diamond D. The Diamond D is a world away from the hustle and bustle of big city life. They generate their own electricity and are more than 50 miles away from any town of appreciable size. Of course, this is how they like it and if you are looking for a quiet, relaxing getaway destination, then this is the place for you.
     
From horseback riding to world renowned fly fishing, the Diamond D makes sure that you have plenty of activities to keep you entertained and there are a lot of activietes for the whole family. For those who just want to relax, they have a pool and plenty of spots to have a picnic or go hiking. They also have a Yoga instructor on staff.
So bring out the family and have a vacation of a life time! We are limited to 15 Members (including guests), so seats are VERY limited. Please RSVP below as soon as possible to reserve your spot...
Estimated Costs:
There are outfits that charge thousands of dollars for this kind of experience. One of the best parts about Diamond D Ranch is that the lodging rate is all inclusive. Three meals a day, including snacks, yoga, horseback riding, fly fishing, all for one price. When you compare how much a family typically spends when they go on vacation, including lodging, rental car, eating out, entertainment, you can easily see the value that is being offered.
As a Monarch Sky Member, you will enjoy a 30% - 40% discount off Diamond D's normal Summer rate. Add in the flying adventure and you have an incredible, yet affordable experience waiting for you. The estimated costs break down as follows:
- 4 Nights Lodging
- $150 per person per night (no horseback riding)
- $175 per person per night (unlimited horseback riding)
- Children 2 & under stay free
- Children over age 2 eligible for reduced rate
- Transportation
- Varies based on type of aircraft flown
- All rates based on Gold Tier rate
- At 135 KIAS, it is approximately a 3.7 hour trip (no wind)
- Per person cost divided by number of occupants
Don't miss this incredible opportunity! More discussion can be found on the Online Forums.
To reserve your spot, please RSVP no later than June 1, 2009.
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